Authorities in India, South Africa and Canada have launched criminal proceedings and safety investigations following a series of fatal structural failures linked to negligence in industrial waste management, unauthorised construction and workplace safety violations. The incidents, which occurred across three countries, have resulted in multiple casualties and highlight critical gaps in regulatory oversight that UK employers should note.
Pune Waste Plant Collapse: Criminal Charges After Nine Deaths
Police in Maharashtra, India, registered a First Information Report (FIR) on July 13 against officials of Antony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd following a catastrophic collapse at the Moshi waste-to-energy plant. The incident, which occurred on July 8, claimed nine lives when a massive garbage mound collapsed onto an administrative building during heavy rains.
The project head and safety officer have been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigations by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) revealed that the three-storey building had an occupancy certificate only for the ground floor. The structure was also built just 12 metres from the landfill — well below the required 30-metre buffer zone.
Incidents like these show how quickly insufficient safety documentation and missing risk assessments can lead to tragedy. For UK employers, having the right paperwork in place isn’t just administrative — it is a legal duty that protects lives. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use checklists, risk assessments and toolbox talks covering key UK regulations including the Health & Safety at Work Act, COSHH and PUWER. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
The Maharashtra government has established a high-level technical inquiry committee led by Pune Divisional Commissioner Sheetal Teli-Ugale. The panel includes experts from IIT Bombay and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and must submit a preliminary report within one month. Records show the plant’s consent to operate had expired on June 30 — eight days before the disaster — with a renewal application still pending.
South Africa Church Wall Collapse: Rescue Teams Search for Survivors
In South Africa, rescue teams were deployed to eBuhleni village in Inanda on July 13 after an 18-metre retaining wall collapsed at a church compound. The structural failure occurred during a gathering, burying congregants under debris.
Emergency services reported that at least eight people were hospitalised with injuries, including two in critical condition. At least seven individuals remained trapped as of Monday afternoon. Rescue operations involved excavators and manual digging to clear the rubble. Local authorities have yet to determine the cause of the collapse, though the wall was reportedly under construction at the time.
Calgary Firm Fined £260,000 for Fatal Trench Collapse
A Canadian plumbing company was ordered to pay $330,000 (£260,000) on July 13 for health and safety violations linked to the death of a 27-year-old worker. The sentencing follows a June 2023 incident in Calgary where a worker was killed in a trench collapse.
The court found that Mr. Mike’s Plumbing failed to ensure employee safety at a site where a trench had been dug to a depth of 19 feet without proper shoring or adequate supervision. The company pleaded guilty to a single charge under Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation, leading the Crown to withdraw 10 other charges.
The £260,000 fine in this case is a stark reminder that health and safety failures carry serious consequences for company directors and managers. Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, UK employers have clear legal duties to protect their workforce. A free toolkit offers nine practical tools including risk assessments, compliance checklists and a director liability guide to help you meet those obligations. Get the free Health & Safety at Work Act Toolkit
The penalty includes a $115,000 fine and a $215,000 payment directed toward a workplace safety campaign at the University of Alberta’s Injury Prevention Centre. The company owner accepted responsibility for the failures during proceedings.
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies
The National Green Tribunal has taken notice of the industrial disaster in Pune, directing local civic and pollution control bodies to file affidavits by August 20. The tribunal’s intervention follows reports that the garbage mound involved in the July 8 collapse had reached heights of 25 to 30 metres.
In response, PCMC officials issued show-cause notices to senior engineers and removed them from their posts. The ongoing inquiries aim to fix responsibility for unauthorised construction and the provision of misleading information regarding site safety.
